I don’t know about you, but I’m a total cat lady. I love cats, and I just think they’re full of personality! If you or your kids love a good cuddle with cats, you’ll enjoy these picture books about cats. Follow smart, silly, mischievous cats as they have a blast with their humans or alone and meet other kids who can’t get enough of cats.
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32 Charming Picture Books About Cats
Here are 32 delightful books about cats:
Cat Problems
Published: August 3, 2021
Just like most cats, this cat lives an extremely comfortable life. But he has his problems too!
The sun spot he’s trying to bathe in won’t stop moving. He keeps getting served dry food instead of wet. And don’t even get him started on the vacuum–it’s an absolute menace!–and the nosy neighbor squirrel that just can’t seem to mind its own business. Will this cat ever find the silver lining?
Matilda’s Cat
Published: January 1, 2012
Matilda is desperate to figure out what her cat will enjoy. She tries everything she can think of: climbing trees, playing with wool, even tea parties and dress-up games, but as Matilda gets more and more creative in her entertainment attempts, her cat moves from unimpressed to terrified. Will Matilda ever figure out what her cat likes?
I Am a Cat
Published: February 6, 2018
A simple housecat named Simon encounters some bigger cats: Lion, Puma, Panther, Tiger, and Cheetah. Each of the big cats has something to say about Simon not being “cat” enough. According to them, he just doesn’t measure up. He doesn’t have Lion’s mane or Cheetah’s spots. He doesn’t sleep in trees like Panther or climb mountains like Puma. He’s small and fuzzy, not big and strong. But ultimately, Simon shows the big cats that he’s just like them . . . only smaller.
Negative Cat
Published: August 31, 2021
When a boy is FINALLY allowed to get a cat, he has no doubts about which one to bring home from the shelter. But Max the cat isn’t quite what the family expected. He shuns the toy mouse, couldn’t care less about the hand-knitted sweater, and spends most of his time facing the wall. One by one, the family gives up on Max, but the boy loves his negative cat so much, he’ll do anything to keep him. Even the thing he dreads most: practicing his reading. Which, as it turns out, makes everything positive!
Stack the Cats
Published: May 2, 2017
One cat sleeps. Two cats play. Three cats stack!
Cats of all shapes and sizes scamper, stretch and yawn across the pages of this adorable counting book. And every now and then, they find themselves in the purrfect fluffy stack!
Miss Hazeltine’s Home for Shy and Fearful Cats
Published: February 1, 2015
A tale with many tails, perfect for cat lovers everywhere!
Miss Hazeltine is opening a very special school for shy and fearful cats. They come from all over, and Miss Hazeltine gives them lessons in everything, from “Bird Basics” to “How Not to Fear the Broom.”
The most timid of all is Crumb. He cowers in a corner. Miss Hazeltine doesn’t mind. But when she gets in trouble and only Crumb knows where she is, will he find his inner courage and lead a daring rescue?
They All Saw A Cat
Published: August 30, 2016
The cat walked through the world, with its whiskers, ears, and paws . . . In this glorious celebration of observation, curiosity, and imagination, author and illustrator Brendan Wenzel shows us the many lives of one cat, and how perspective shapes what we see. When you see a cat, what do you see?
Bad Kitty
Published: October 1, 2005
From the creator of The New York Times bestseller Boing! comes the riotous story of a cat gone berserk — four times over an in alphabetical order each time. Kitty is not happy hen she’s told that her favorite foods are all gone and all that’s left are Asparagus, Beets, Cauliflower, Dill…and 22 other equally unappealing vegetables. So she: Ate my homework, Bit grandma, Clawed the curtains, Damaged the dishes, and so on, through Z. Only when tastier things arrive (An Assortment of Anchovies, Buffalo Burritos, Chicken Cheesecake…) does she Apologize to Grandma.
The Sneaking, Hiding, Vibrating Creature
Published: June 1, 2021
Join Strange Planet’s lovable parent and child aliens as they embark on a quest to understand the vibrating creature (that’s a cat to us humans) that is stalking around their house. As the aliens closely observe the creature, they discover all their differences and what they have in common. This paper-over-board picture book has all the literal-minded charm of Nathan’s previous books, and is written with parents and kids in mind. It’s perfect for playtime, bedtime, or anytime!
How to Be a Cat
Published: March 12, 2013
In cut-paper artist Nikki McClure’s latest picture book, a kitten practices the basics of feline behavior over the course of a day. A single word of text per spread teaches readers “how to be a cat”―how to stretch, clean, pounce, feast―while the striking paper cuts illustrate the kitten’s attempts to imitate an adult cat’s mastery of each skill. At times the kitten triumphantly succeeds, and at other times the kitten struggles, in vignettes that range from whimsical to profound.
A celebration of all things feline, How to Be a Cat also tells a universal story of mastering life skills, and of the sometimes tender, sometimes stern relationship between parent and child, teacher and pupil. Cat lovers of all ages will connect to this loving portrayal of a mentor-student relationship.
All Cats Welcome
Published: May 10, 2022
Leonard adores his human. “Stay! Let’s play!” he says when it’s time to leave for work. His human just hears “Meow.”
Sometimes Leonard gets lonely. So does Mariposa, who is new in town. Maybe they could keep each other company? “Hello,” says Leonard. “Hola,” says Mariposa.
While the friends don’t share a language, they do share adventures. And together they find a place where all cats—and their humans—are welcome.
Cat Knit
Published: October 11, 2016
Cat and Yarn are the best of friends. They have so much fun playing together, the two are inseparable.
Until the day Girl takes Yarn away.
When Yarn Returns, he is completely changed, no longer Cat’s bright and jolly friend. Cat is mad!
Soon, Cat begins to miss his best friend, and he just might realize that a little change isn’t so bad after all.
Pretty Kitty
Published: June 12, 2018
A counting picture book in rhyme about a lonely old man whose heart is slowly melted by an ever-growing number of kitties hoping to find a home.
Old man, big city. Pretty kitty, pretty little itty bitty kitty cat.
In this charming counting book, a lonely old man discovers one kitty on his front step. But he does not want a kitty cat—scat! As the number of kitties grows, will the man find room in his heart—and home—for his new feline friends?
No Fuzzball!
Published: August 4, 2020
Fuzzball is Queen of the house. Her subjects just LOVE how she scales the tallest shelves and drags their belongings across the floor. Hear how they shout her name everywhere she goes … “NOFUZZBALL!” But when they leave her queendom for the weekend, she questions whether she should be a more benevolent ruler.Fans of funny, lovable characters like Aaron Blabey’s Pig the Pug, Mo Willems’s Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, and David Shannon’s No, David! will fall in love with this furry, feline despot.
I Hate My Cats(A Love Story)
Published: October 2, 2018
Ginger is the weird one. She plays with peas, purrs at artichokes, and has a strange fondness for chicken (but only the neighbor’s chicken). Then there’s Fred. His greatest talent? Sleeping. Oh, and hiding. And when he’s not hiding, he’s conspiring with Ginger to destroy the house! Such is life with cats. . . can’t live with ’em, can’t live without ’em—if you love them, that is. And yet the question remains: Why are these captivating creatures so marvelously maddening?! From internationally bestselling author Davide Cali, this humorous picture book about a cat owner and his beguiling felines celebrates quirky cat companions, impurrfections and all.
There Are Cats in This Book
Published: November 25, 2008
There they are, purring under a blanket. But not for long! Three sprightly cats named Tiny, Moonpie, and Andre are eager to involve you in their games, whether it’s tossing a ball of yarn (oof!), lifting flaps to find them in boxes (comfy), or getting caught in a pillow fight (biff!). As their antics get wilder still, they’ll need a kind soul to blow on the page to dry them off! With an irresistible story that directly engages the reader, this book’s clever design and bright, gestural illustrations make for cat-tastic lift-the-flap fun.
Atticus Caticus
Published: April 23, 2021
Atticus Caticus,
ears like a bat-tat-ticus!
Snap your fingers to the beat as a boy introduces us to his beloved (and oh-so-recognizably feline) cat. Whether Atticus is lying in the sun or stealing a sip from a water glass, sharpening his nails on a favorite chair or settling in for the night on his boy’s head, this cat will win your heart—and maybe inspire you to improvise a few riffs of poetry about your own animal friends.
How to Give Your Cat a Bath: In Five Easy Steps
Published: January 22, 2019
Step one: fill the bath
Step two: put the cat in the bath
Step three: put shampoo on the cat
Step four: rinse the cat
Step five: dry the cat
Seems simple, right? One problem: the cat has no intention of doing ANY of these things! Watch as the steps keep changing, the cat keeps escaping, the girl keeps eating cookies and the mess keeps escalating. Soon it’s not just the cat who needs a bath–it’s the whole house!
Bad Dog
Published: November 5, 2019
“Look what I got for my birthday! A pet dog!” says a little girl holding a . . . cat? Rocky doesn’t listen or obey like all the other dogs. (Because Rocky is a cat.) And Rocky hates her leash and doesn’t seem to like other dogs. (Probably because Rocky is a cat.) And rather than play fetch, Rocky prefers to . . . lick between her toes? Ew. Rocky is a bad “dog”! BUT Rocky doesn’t bark, and is so cute when she sleeps in sunny spots. Maybe Rocky IS a good dog? (Or, you know, maybe Rocky is a cat.)
Square Cat
Published: January 4, 2011
Eula is the only square cat in town. Everything that normal cats do is hard for her — she can’t get her square paw into mouseholes, she can’t wear her favorite circle skirt, and all of her friends are round! Eula is sad until her two best friends show her just how well a square cat can fit into this round world.
Inside Cat
Published: October 12, 2021
As the cat wanders, wonders, stares, and snacks, roaming from room to room and place to place, both cat and reader discover worlds and sensations beyond what’s right in front of them. And just when Inside Cat is sure it knows everything, another surprise awaits! Fresh, funny, and wise, Inside Cat is a feast for the eyes and the imagination.
The Summer Nick Taught His Cats to Read
Published: July 5, 2016
It’s not easy to teach a cat to read, but one boy tries to anyway in this sweet and silly picture book debut that captures the challenges and rewards of learning to read.
Nick loves to read books—and he loves to play with his cats, Verne and Stevenson. So naturally Nick decides it’s a great idea to teach his cats to read. But Verne and Stevenson don’t appreciate when Nick wakes them up with a flashcard that says NAP. Nick finally piques Verne’s interest with words like MOUSE and FISH. But not Stevenson’s. While Nick and Verne go to the library, Stevenson hides under the porch. Will Nick ever find a way to share his love of reading with his feline friends?
Cat Nap
Published: January 26, 2016
Cat loves to nap. If only he could find a good resting place to hide from playful (and wide awake) Kitten!
Opposites and hide-and-seek make this a fun story for naptime — or anytime.
Max Attacks
Published: June 11, 2019
Max is a cat. He attacks. From socks to strings to many a fish, attacking, for Max, is most de-lish. But how many of these things can he actually catch? Well, let’s just say it’s no even match.
I Love Cats!
Published: December 26, 2017
Cat lovers of all ages will revel in this delightful ode to feline friends!
Hug Time
Published: November 1, 2007
There was once a kitten so filled with love he wanted to give the whole world a hug! Jules the kitten (also known in the MUTTS cartoons as “Shtinky Puddin'”) knows that hugs can make the world a better place. So he makes a “Hug To-Do List”–with the endangered species of the world at the top–and travels the globe to show all of the animals that someone cares. From Africa to the North Pole to his own back yard, Jules proves a hug is the simplest–but kindest–gift we can give. With its gently environmental theme, this joyous rhyming story about sharing love is an ideal gift year-round.
Cat Secrets
Published: January 4, 2011
I’m sorry—this book is not for you. This book is for CATS ONLY.
What’s that you say?
You are a cat?
Okay . . . get ready to prove it!
I Am the Boss of this Chair
Published: March 6, 2018
When a new kitten joins the family, can a top cat learn to share his chair—and (almost) everything else, too?
“I, Oswald Minklehoff Honey Bunny III, am the boss of this chair. You may look at it, and you may walk by it, but you may not sit in it.
Because I am the boss of this chair, and that’s that.”
Oswald Minklehoff Honey Bunny III has always been top cat. Then Pom Pom the kitten comes along and suddenly Oswald isn’t the boss of everything anymore—not the toilet paper, food dish, back door, toy mouse, or even his own special chair. Will Oswald realize that life is more fun when you have a friend—and that, really, there’s plenty of room on the chair to share? A fun picture book with a comforting message for any kid with a new sibling.
Meow
Published: October 3, 2017
Meow! is a charming, mostly wordless picture book about a feisty young kitten who gets frustrated when her family is too busy to play.
Joy
Published: June 6, 2019
“Bounce bounce, ding-a-ling, ring ring, let’s sing! I feel joy!” From an award-winning author and illustrator pairing comes an irresistibly energetic read-aloud picture book. Join the bouncy little kitten as she plays with her favourite toy and – uh oh – falls down with a trip-trip-slip. But with a little hug, a kiss and a squeeze, she’s going to be just fine. A truly joyful celebration of the love between parent and child.
Glamourpuss
Published: February 24, 2015
Glamourpuss has it all.She has style.She has charm. And she knows how to strike a pose.Glamourpuss loves being the center of attention. So when an unwelcome guest (a dog, no less!) steals the spotlight with some tasteless bow-wowing and undignified tail-wagging, Glamourpuss worries that she’s going to fall out of fashion. Is there room for only one superstar in this mansion? When Glamourpuss makes her most majestic move to find out, the result is pure purrfection.
Up Cat, Down Cat
Published: May 5, 2020
Black cat. White cat. One is long, stretching out, and the other is short, crouching. When both perch in a window, one tail is straight, the other one curly. One has an empty plate, and the other a full one. With a mouse to entertain them, variously lost and found, they move through the day, until one cat is awake and the other asleep, but for how long? With enchanting ink illustrations full of pure color, simple shapes, and an elegant use of negative and positive space, this concept board book for the youngest of readers is a joy to behold — and as graceful as a leaping cat.
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